I believe I was bi-polar since I was young. I don't remember a time when I wasn't depressed or manic. I was just diagnosed 3 weeks ago, and at 59 I may begin to quit having suicidal ideations. I write books and poetry. I am an INSF, and fit the profile to a tea. I've been made fun of all my life because of who I am. I'll see if the Limectal (sp?) helps. I don't want to kill myself, but the downward spiral is so scary that I wonder if one day I will just keep going down. Kinda scary to read about this, but I am who I am, and I accept myself, even if no one else does. I suppose I'm so far gone that the Lamictal won't really put a dent in my creativity, but hopefully the dark won't be quite so dark.